About us

The active leisure and learning sector is made up of five sub-sectors: sport and recreation, health and fitness, playwork, the outdoors, and caravans. SkillsActive works with all five sub-sectors to increase the demand for, the quality and the supply of skills provision, to bring all areas together in collaboration, and to lobby funding agencies and policy makers for improvements to the sector.

SkillsActive is a dynamic organisation based throughout the English regions as well as in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. SkillsActive staff are experts in their field providing employers, training providers, policy makers and a host of other organisations with information and advice on skills development and training for the sector.

SkillsActive takes the lead from employers and is a government-backed organisation. Being employer-led is key after all, employers are the people who know what skills they need for their workforce, what they will need for their organisation to grow, and how their employees and volunteers can best be trained.

SkillsActive is the organisation that links employers with training providers, policy makers and individuals to ensure that the importance of skills needs are communicated and addressed, and that workforce development policies really get to the heart of what the active leisure and learning sector needs.

Employers are at the centre of SkillsActive’s work. Employers include private businesses, public and community businesses and trusts, and voluntary and not-for-profit organisations.

Alliance of Sector Skills Councils

SkillsActive is part of a network of sector skills councils (the Alliance of Sector Skills Councils) which brings together employers, trade unions and professional bodies working with government and their agencies to develop the skills that UK business needs.

The Alliance is a new organisation (since 1st April 2008) comprising all 25 Sector Skills Councils (SSCs). The full extent of the Alliance's scope will develop over time, but its core purpose is to:

• Promote understanding of the role of SSCs within the skills system across the four home nations
• Co-ordinate policy positions and strategic work on skills with stakeholders across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Help build the performance capability of the Sector Skills Councils, to ensure they continue to work effectively on the employer-driven skills agenda

For more information visit www.sscalliance.org

The UK Commission for Employment and Skills

Launched on 1 April 2008, the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) is a key recommendation in Lord Leitch's 2006 review of skills. The UKCES is responsible for the licensing process of the 25 Sector Skills Councils (SSCs). The UKCES aims to raise UK prosperity and opportunity by improving employment and skills.

For more information visit www.ukces.org.uk

Find out more

Follow the links below to find out more about the sector, skills and SkillsActive:

• Watch a video explaining the sector, the importance of skills and the role of SkillsActive
• What does SkillsActive do?
• Why is skills provision important?
• Why is the active leisure and learning sector important?
• Who does SkillsActive work with?

SkillsActive is a registered charity (1098336), and is VAT registered (882 0877 92)